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International and Regional Indigenous Rights: An Analysis of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights with a Case Study on Guatemala.

Creator

Ravins, Ashley

Date Issued

2018-11-30

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1543589419_2faacbdd

Format

Thesis

Title

Novel Role of Blackberries in Senescence and Atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- Mice.

Creator

Serino, Alexa

Abstract/Description

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and the incidence of these diseases increases with age. Senescence is an aging process that results in the termination of cell proliferation due to multiple cell divisions that shorten telomeres and damage DNA. Senescence can also be induced prematurely by cellular stress including reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced by several sources including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases (Nox) enzymes.... Show moreCardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and the incidence of these diseases increases with age. Senescence is an aging process that results in the termination of cell proliferation due to multiple cell divisions that shorten telomeres and damage DNA. Senescence can also be induced prematurely by cellular stress including reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced by several sources including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases (Nox) enzymes. Excessive production of cellular ROS is maintained by antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1 and 2 and catalase. Published data from our lab showed that blackberry polyphenols increase SOD1 expression and decrease expression of Nox1, decreasing ROS levels and reducing senescence in vitro in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Through the use of ApoE-/- male mice, preliminary data show that supplementation with 2% freeze-dried blackberry powder reduced senescence and plaque in response to high fat diet in the aorta. However, it is unknown whether the protective effect of blackberry is mediated by downregulation of Nox1 in vivo and whether this effect is also observed in female mice. In this dissertation, we will test the hypothesis that the protective effect of blackberry supplementation in reducing senescence and atherosclerosis is associated with the downregulation of Nox1 in vivo in both male and female ApoE-/- mice. After 5 weeks of treatment with low fat (LFD), high fat (HFD), or HFD supplemented with blackberry (HFD+BL), results showed that blackberry reduces Nox1 expression in male aortas. Blackberry further protects against ROS production by reducing activation of Angiotensin II (Ang II) targets including p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator-1 (PGC-1a). In female aortas, blackberry upregulates antioxidant enzyme SOD2. Show less

Date Issued

2018-11-30

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1543622432_b8525004

Format

Thesis

Title

A comparison of Effective Teaching Practices Utilized by Two Amercian Saxophone Teachers.

Creator

Seier, Nicholas David

Abstract/Description

Undergraduate music students receive the greatest amount of instruction in their applied lessons; however, the amount of research regarding teaching in the private lesson setting is much less than that of the classroom setting. Research regarding pedagogy and highly effective individuals or master teachers is common. American saxophone teachers have been studied considerably with the exception of teachers who studied with Sigurd Raschèr, one of the saxophone’s earliest pioneers within the... Show moreUndergraduate music students receive the greatest amount of instruction in their applied lessons; however, the amount of research regarding teaching in the private lesson setting is much less than that of the classroom setting. Research regarding pedagogy and highly effective individuals or master teachers is common. American saxophone teachers have been studied considerably with the exception of teachers who studied with Sigurd Raschèr, one of the saxophone’s earliest pioneers within the classical tradition. This study aims to add to the body of research on applied teaching as well as saxophonists who have studied with the master teacher Sigurd Raschèr. The purpose of this study is to analyze and describe the similarities and differences in educating saxophonists between two prominent teachers from diverse American traditions. The two teachers selected for the study were Patrick Meighan who recently retired from Florida State University and Eric Nestler who currently teaches at the University of North Texas. Both participants answered ten questions regarding teaching techniques, concepts, and values. The study found that the participants received instruction from teachers of diverse traditions. The strongest influence for Meighan and Nestler were the teachers with whom they spent the most time. Over time, Meighan and Nestler developed their own unique teaching practices through an amalgamation of their teachers and individual experiences. The results of the study suggest that master teachers follow a pattern of learning one school of thought, imitating their teacher, and developing their own unique school of thought. The appendices include transcriptions of the participants’ answers. Show less

Date Issued

2018-12-03

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1543868846_5e71c0ca

Format

Thesis

Title

Conservation Worldwide: an Analysis of Protected Areas Under Different Political Systems.

Creator

Hebron, Matthew, Coleman, Eric

Date Issued

2018-11-29

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1543877039_2137b1c1

Format

Thesis

Title

The Media and Drugs: A Content Analysis of Conversation Shifts Between Drug Wars.

Creator

Craig, Chloe

Abstract/Description

The media in the United States (U.S.) continues to expand its broad reaching coverage which shapes national discourse and perceptions about crime. Thus, it becomes increasingly important to assess the information that is being produced and disseminated through this medium. The purpose of the current research is to employ a content analysis of four widely circulated news sources, The New York Times (NYT), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), The Washington Post, and USA Today, within the years 1987,... Show moreThe media in the United States (U.S.) continues to expand its broad reaching coverage which shapes national discourse and perceptions about crime. Thus, it becomes increasingly important to assess the information that is being produced and disseminated through this medium. The purpose of the current research is to employ a content analysis of four widely circulated news sources, The New York Times (NYT), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), The Washington Post, and USA Today, within the years 1987, 2005, and 2015 to assess the variability in media coverage and how the discussion of drugs and drug usage in these news sources has changed over time. This research focuses specific attention on whether the coverage changed, in part, as a result of the demographic shift in drug usage or some other bias process. This research seeks to shed light on implicit bias that underlies the news coverage as well as the policy responses to the drug problem in the U.S. In the analyses, four major themes emerged: criminality and social control, descriptions of treatment and rehabilitation, race and racial subtext, and policy. As hypothesized, there is a substantial decrease in the discussion of criminal justice responses to opioid use compared to methamphetamine (meth) and crack use. In addition, treatment was increasingly more likely to be discussed as time progressed, which suggest that this discussion was most common during the opioid crisis. Additionally, race seemed to play a large role within each time period as there were high counts of racial subtexts over all three time periods. Black Americans were labeled using low socioeconomic and criminal/violent descriptions, and White Americans were described as having higher potentials and access to resources. Finally, as policies shifted over these three time periods, so did the media coverage. The discussion within the meth epidemic is broader and contains slightly more personal stories, and the opioid crisis contained the highest number of individual stories connected with policy implementation. The results of this study highlight the relevance of the media and how they can control the conversation about major social ills in society. Thus, it is critical to understand how the media constructs narratives about social problems, and it is important for the media to recognize how the biases in its coverage can impact society at large. Overall, the significant shifts in media conversation about drugs can influence bias among readers. Society absorbs media messages regularly and will commonly use the media to form opinions about hot topics or relevant topics within the news. This study calls for news sources to recognize implicit biases and understand the impact of the way news is covered. Show less

Triplet-triplet annihilation photon upconversion (TTA-UC) allows for the conversion of two low energy photons into a higher energy state and can therefore be utilized to improve the efficiency of solar cell devices. TTA-UC allows for the increased efficiency because a large portion of the solar spectrum remains unabsorbed by solar devices. The use of an osmium sensitizer has allowed for the upconversion of near-IR to visible light in solution, but not yet on the surface. We explore the use of... Show moreTriplet-triplet annihilation photon upconversion (TTA-UC) allows for the conversion of two low energy photons into a higher energy state and can therefore be utilized to improve the efficiency of solar cell devices. TTA-UC allows for the increased efficiency because a large portion of the solar spectrum remains unabsorbed by solar devices. The use of an osmium sensitizer has allowed for the upconversion of near-IR to visible light in solution, but not yet on the surface. We explore the use of an osmium sensitizer with perylene diimide acceptors in a self-assembled bilayer device utilizing TTA-UC. Show less

Neuron glial antigen 2 (NG2) is a transmembrane protein predominately expressed in certain central nervous system (CNS) cells. Among these cell types are oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and astrocytes. The 250 kilodalton core protein undergoes extensive post-translational modification. The addition of chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan chains and disulfide bonds allows for binding to a number of receptors and extracellular ligands which allows it to play a vital role in cell... Show moreNeuron glial antigen 2 (NG2) is a transmembrane protein predominately expressed in certain central nervous system (CNS) cells. Among these cell types are oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and astrocytes. The 250 kilodalton core protein undergoes extensive post-translational modification. The addition of chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycan chains and disulfide bonds allows for binding to a number of receptors and extracellular ligands which allows it to play a vital role in cell migration, survival, and angiogenesis. Although NG2 expression has been classically associated with CNS cell types, the presence of NG2 has been detected in immune cells in a variety of CNS pathologies. Following a spinal cord injury (SCI), a small population of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) infiltrating the injured spinal cord have been reported to express NG2. While infiltrating macrophages in the injured spinal cord are considered pro-inflammatory, it is unclear whether NG2+ BMDMs are classically (pro-inflammatory) or alternatively activated (anti-inflammatory). In addition, much is still unknown regarding the immunological role of NG2+ macrophages. To determine the factors driving NG2 expression, we quantified protein expression following various activating stimuli. The findings suggest that NG2 upregulation is strongly associated with alternative (anti-inflammatory) activation. Show less

Date Issued

2018-12-06

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544082780_9588a7c4

Format

Thesis

Title

Comparing Naming Speed in the Arabic and English Productions by Bilingual Speakers Using Syllables/Second.

Creator

Emerson, Olivia Lauren

Date Issued

2018-12-03

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544113520_e068f3c8

Format

Thesis

Title

A Day in the Life of Picoplankton in Dickerson Bay, FL.

Creator

Basden, Isabelle G

Abstract/Description

Pelagic ecosystems play an important role in regulating the Earth’s biogeochemical processes. Picoplankton, cells > 2µm, are some of the most abundant plankton in the pelagic community and responsible for 44-90% of primary production in tropical oceans. This study attempts to understand the daily fluctuations of picoplanktonic organisms in relation to the abiotic and biotic factors that may influence their dynamics by 1) analyzing the fluctuations in picoplankton community structure and... Show morePelagic ecosystems play an important role in regulating the Earth’s biogeochemical processes. Picoplankton, cells > 2µm, are some of the most abundant plankton in the pelagic community and responsible for 44-90% of primary production in tropical oceans. This study attempts to understand the daily fluctuations of picoplanktonic organisms in relation to the abiotic and biotic factors that may influence their dynamics by 1) analyzing the fluctuations in picoplankton community structure and density from 8am to 8pm 2) analyzing the relationship between picoplankton fluctuations and abiotic factors including light, temperature, and the tidal cycle and 3) analyzing the impact of a sponge filter feeder on picoplankton abundance. Picoplankton densities fluctuated significantly through out the day and tidal cycles and vertical mixing could play a large role in these daily dynamics. Sponge feeding can significantly decrease the density of autotrophic picoplankton and could be a form of control for picoplankton communities. Show less

Date Issued

2018-12-06

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544132166_3fcd2e46

Format

Thesis

Title

Spatial-Temporal Deep Neural Networks for Land Use Classification of LandSat Images.

Creator

Farzaneh, Cameron Vahid

Date Issued

2018-12-06

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544152391_4e969591

Format

Thesis

Title

Surviving and Striving for Normalcy: The Endurance of the Americans of Baguio Interned by the Japanese in the Philippines During World War II.

Creator

Morton, Gillian

Abstract/Description

In December 1941, the Japanese military interned approximately five hundred American and Allied civilians in a camp outside of the Philippine city of Baguio. For three years, this group of internees survived internment together and successfully developed a functioning internment camp community. The internees developed genuine friendships with one of their Japanese commandants, Rokuro Tomibe because he did everything in his power to make life more comfortable for them, and to understand their... Show moreIn December 1941, the Japanese military interned approximately five hundred American and Allied civilians in a camp outside of the Philippine city of Baguio. For three years, this group of internees survived internment together and successfully developed a functioning internment camp community. The internees developed genuine friendships with one of their Japanese commandants, Rokuro Tomibe because he did everything in his power to make life more comfortable for them, and to understand their cultural differences. After their liberation by American forces in February 1945, the internees dispersed. However, for decades afterward, the Baguio internees continued to reunite with one another, and even with Tomibe. These reunions were a testament to the strength of the community and friendships they had developed through internment. Show less

Date Issued

2018-12-06

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544155340_cb65aba4

Format

Thesis

Title

Tracking the Evolution of Water Column NO3-+NO2- δ15N & δ18O from the South Atlantic, Through the Gulf of Mexico, and to the North Atlantic.

Creator

Howe, Samantha Paige

Abstract/Description

The Gulf of Mexico is known for the biogeochemical impacts of significant riverine nutrient inputs on the ecosystem. However, it is unclear whether nutrients delivered to the Gulf of Mexico are subsequently exported from the Gulf, further influencing the chemistry of the North Atlantic. The nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate (NO3-) have been increasingly used to track nitrogen fluxes to, from, and cycling within the ocean. Here, we report the first dual isotopic composition... Show moreThe Gulf of Mexico is known for the biogeochemical impacts of significant riverine nutrient inputs on the ecosystem. However, it is unclear whether nutrients delivered to the Gulf of Mexico are subsequently exported from the Gulf, further influencing the chemistry of the North Atlantic. The nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate (NO3-) have been increasingly used to track nitrogen fluxes to, from, and cycling within the ocean. Here, we report the first dual isotopic composition measurements of NO3- from the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Straits, and compare these with prior measurements from the South and North Atlantic, and identify potential processes consistent with the observed shifts. The nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of nitrate in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Straits is very similar to that previously measured in the Sargasso Sea. There is little evidence for riverine or submarine groundwater NO3- directly influencing the isotopic composition of NO3- exported from the Gulf of Mexico. These results are consistent with recent modeling work suggesting that the majority of riverine nutrients delivered to the Gulf of Mexico are retained in the near-shore region. Show less

Date Issued

2018-11-30

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544166511_4abc31f1

Format

Thesis

Title

Vulnerable Objects.

Creator

Grace, Kasey

Date Issued

2018-12-07

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544192788_448ccb77

Format

Thesis

Title

Effects of Neonatal Stress on the Parietal Hippocampal Network.

Creator

Pei, Eric

Abstract/Description

Maternal separation in rats is used to study how stress impacts the brain. Our laboratory previously made use of a simple model of learning and memory to assess the effects of early stress in the form of daily maternal separation on adult learning and memory using a simple model system to assess learning and memory: eyeblink conditioning. Glucocorticoids are important for modulation of stress for adult learning and memory. Previously we found that neonatal stress increased glucocorticoid... Show moreMaternal separation in rats is used to study how stress impacts the brain. Our laboratory previously made use of a simple model of learning and memory to assess the effects of early stress in the form of daily maternal separation on adult learning and memory using a simple model system to assess learning and memory: eyeblink conditioning. Glucocorticoids are important for modulation of stress for adult learning and memory. Previously we found that neonatal stress increased glucocorticoid receptor expression in the cerebellum, that increased receptor expression was correlated with impaired learning and that blocking excess receptors restored normal learning. Here we set out to begin assessing the possibility that more complex learning and memory brain systems may be altered in a similar way. The parietal hippocampal network has been shown to be part of the brain network responsible for learning, memory and spatial navigation and has not been previously assessed following neonatal stress. To test for how early stress affects learning and memory in the parietal hippocampal network, GR expression was quantified. By using previously obtained coronal sections of brain data, GR expression was analyzed in the parietal cortex. Neonatal maternal separation was found to not significantly alter GR expression in the parietal cortex or effect stress on the parietal hippocampal network. GR expression varies oppositely from studies on connectivity and differences in regional GR expression is suggested to not interact with neonatal stress. Show less

Date Issued

2018-12-07

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544194756_11d65681

Format

Thesis

Title

The Presentation of Visual Details in Modern Audio Drama, 2012-2017.

Creator

Christopher, Erin E

Date Issued

2018-12-07

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544211081_7720c62a

Format

Thesis

Title

How the Rose City Rose to Power: Reconstruction, Redemption, and Remembering in Thomasville.

Creator

Pope, Jenna Noel

Abstract/Description

This case study examined Thomasville, Georgia--a seemingly quiet southern town with a history that speaks volumes. After the Civil War, Thomasville went for broke and broke the mold in the 1870s, popularizing itself as a health resort for pulmonary patients in the North. By the 1890s, Old South cotton plantations transformed into northern-owned hunting plantations, retaining the plantation title and the black labor force. While these changes seemed to occur naturally, New South engineers... Show moreThis case study examined Thomasville, Georgia--a seemingly quiet southern town with a history that speaks volumes. After the Civil War, Thomasville went for broke and broke the mold in the 1870s, popularizing itself as a health resort for pulmonary patients in the North. By the 1890s, Old South cotton plantations transformed into northern-owned hunting plantations, retaining the plantation title and the black labor force. While these changes seemed to occur naturally, New South engineers anticipated the town's success as the result of efforts put forth by one Confederate-steeped family and a black workforce dedicated to supporting the needs of visiting northerners. White northerners and black southerners performed a recitation of plantation life that emulated the Old South and reinforced toxic labor patterns. Home to roughly seventy plantations today, Thomasvillians literally live in the past but shroud themselves in their progressive rhetoric. The skeleton of the physical and social infrastructures, built to maintain this idyllic state, still remains and provides evidence of disparity that undermines the progress Thomasville purports to project. Show less

Date Issued

2018-12-07

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544214344_4ca6d68a

Format

Thesis

Title

"In a sleepier century": A Work for Chamber Orchestra and Dance.

Creator

Barzso, Isaac

Date Issued

2018-11-15

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544292189_ee27d901

Format

Thesis

Title

Mathematical Notions in Theoretical Physics.

Creator

Escabi, Javier Alejandro

Date Issued

2018-12-08

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544299997_2f867606

Format

Thesis

Title

Social Media Perceptions.

Creator

Stapp, Rebecca

Abstract/Description

This current study explores how millennials’ online perceptions are affecting their employment opportunities. Living in this digital age, all young adults and college students should be conscious of their online perception. This study exposes more information on what employers and recruiters do not want to see while screening a potential candidate’s social media. It will test the effects of a created social media user engaging in inappropriate images of sexual content and illegal drug use.... Show moreThis current study explores how millennials’ online perceptions are affecting their employment opportunities. Living in this digital age, all young adults and college students should be conscious of their online perception. This study exposes more information on what employers and recruiters do not want to see while screening a potential candidate’s social media. It will test the effects of a created social media user engaging in inappropriate images of sexual content and illegal drug use. This study focuses on how images related to sexual content and illegal drug use can impact one’s credibility and employment opportunities. After all, public perception is reality and if that reality has the potential to hurt an organization’s reputation, the potential candidate probably won’t be offered a position. Show less

Date Issued

2018-12-12

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544628646_043d7ad3

Format

Thesis

Title

Analyzing the Effect of Prison Labor on Recidivism in Florida: A Skills Based Approach.

Creator

Rodriguez, Osvaldo

Date Issued

2018-12-12

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544640775_0ec12c28

Format

Thesis

Title

Thoughts I've Had at Parties.

Creator

Papouskaya, Katrina

Date Issued

2018-12-12

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544644888_de898fc3

Format

Thesis

Title

An Examination of Overprotective Parenting as a Link Between ADHD and Anxiety In 5-7 Year Old Children.

Creator

Kegley, Molly

Abstract/Description

Appearing in early to late childhood, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the most common psychological disorders and can affect several aspects of a child’s life, including peer relations and overall well-being. Key symptoms of ADHD include symptoms restlessness, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. There is a high comorbidity between ADHD and anxiety, although it is not clear which disorder comes first developmentally since possible mechanisms that underlie the link... Show moreAppearing in early to late childhood, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the most common psychological disorders and can affect several aspects of a child’s life, including peer relations and overall well-being. Key symptoms of ADHD include symptoms restlessness, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. There is a high comorbidity between ADHD and anxiety, although it is not clear which disorder comes first developmentally since possible mechanisms that underlie the link between them are not well understood. Some studies have suggested that specific parenting styles may be linked to both ADHD and anxiety in young children. These studies have suggested that the symptoms of ADHD may lead to controlling or overprotective parenting - including intrusiveness and discouragement of personal independence. This parenting style has been linked to increased anxiety levels in children and could be a potential catalyst for increased levels of anxiety among children with ADHD. The current project aimed to examine whether the comorbidity between anxiety and ADHD could be connected to over-protective parenting by testing a mediation model in a group of 102 5-7 year old children. We utilized the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) to measure the level of ADHD and anxiety symptoms as reported by the parent and the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ) to measure the overprotective tendencies exhibited by the parent. Results supported a mediation model wherein the link between ADHD and anxiety symptoms was significantly mediated by over-protective parenting style. Show less

Date Issued

2018-10-19

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544651013_082c4dfd

Format

Thesis

Title

Exploring Pupil Diameter as a Lie Detection Method.

Creator

Gonzales, Violeta

Abstract/Description

Traditional methods of lie detection (e.g., polygraph, GSR, heart rate) have often led to more controversy than successful detection. Leading the charge into the future of lie detection technology is eye-tracking, a young and innovative field that represents a new and promising strategy for addressing deception by measuring eye movements, pupil size, and attentional allocation. This experiment examined the body’s physiological reactions to engaging in deception by using pupillometry. We... Show moreTraditional methods of lie detection (e.g., polygraph, GSR, heart rate) have often led to more controversy than successful detection. Leading the charge into the future of lie detection technology is eye-tracking, a young and innovative field that represents a new and promising strategy for addressing deception by measuring eye movements, pupil size, and attentional allocation. This experiment examined the body’s physiological reactions to engaging in deception by using pupillometry. We examined and compared these physiological responses between two conditions: being told to tell a lie or the truth. We also examined the effects of the lie being told spontaneously compared to knowing in advance that a lie would be produced, as well as the effect of practice. With the use of a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm, participants looked at a continuous stream of visual images (i.e., letters) and were asked to report (or lie about) the letter of a unique color (black letter among gray letters). Participants were prompted at the end of the trial to either report the letter correctly, or to lie about it. On some trials, this prompt occurred in advance of the letter stream so participants could prepare to lie, and for other trials it occurred at the end and participants had little opportunity to prepare their lie. It was predicted that lies would be characterized by an increase in pupil size, but this prediction received limited support. With regard to reaction time, lie responses took significantly longer, and there was a trend for this cost to decrease with practice. So while lies were successfully detected, the implementation of pupillometry was not successful, and future research is suggested in order to collect more powerful results from a stronger paradigm. Show less

Date Issued

2018-11-28

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1544654398_5c390da3

Format

Thesis

Title

Effect of ORF52 KSHV Localization on its Ability to Inhibit cGAS Activity.

Creator

Henriquez, John Gabriel

Date Issued

2018-12-19

Identifier

FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1545259955_284e24c0

Format

Thesis

Title

Metrics For The Evaluation Of The Southern Ocean In Coupled Climate Models And Earth System Models.

The Southern Ocean is central to the global climate and the global carbon cycle, and to the climate's response to increasing levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases, as it ventilates a large fraction of the global ocean volume. Global coupled climate models and earth system models, however, vary widely in their simulations of the Southern Ocean and its role in, and response to, the ongoing anthropogenic trend. Due to the region's complex water-mass structure and dynamics, Southern Ocean carbon... Show moreThe Southern Ocean is central to the global climate and the global carbon cycle, and to the climate's response to increasing levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases, as it ventilates a large fraction of the global ocean volume. Global coupled climate models and earth system models, however, vary widely in their simulations of the Southern Ocean and its role in, and response to, the ongoing anthropogenic trend. Due to the region's complex water-mass structure and dynamics, Southern Ocean carbon and heat uptake depend on a combination of winds, eddies, mixing, buoyancy fluxes, and topography. Observationally based metrics are critical for discerning processes and mechanisms, and for validating and comparing climate and earth system models. New observations and understanding have allowed for progress in the creation of observationally based data/model metrics for the Southern Ocean. Metrics presented here provide a means to assess multiple simulations relative to the best available observations and observational products. Climate models that perform better according to these metrics also better simulate the uptake of heat and carbon by the Southern Ocean. This report is not strictly an intercomparison, but rather a distillation of key metrics that can reliably quantify the "accuracy" of a simulation against observed, or at least observable, quantities. One overall goal is to recommend standardization of observationally based benchmarks that the modeling community should aspire to meet in order to reduce uncertainties in climate projections, and especially uncertainties related to oceanic heat and carbon uptake. Plain Language Summary Observationally based metrics are essential for the standardized evaluation of climate and earth system models, and for reducing the uncertainty associated with future projections by those models. Show less

We consider estimating binary response models on an unbalanced panel, where the outcome of the dependent variable may be missing due to nonrandom selection, or there is self-selection into a treatment. In the present paper, we first consider estimation of sample selection models and treatment effects using a fully parametric approach, where the error distribution is assumed to be normal in both primary and selection equations. Arbitrary time dependence in errors is permitted. Estimation of... Show moreWe consider estimating binary response models on an unbalanced panel, where the outcome of the dependent variable may be missing due to nonrandom selection, or there is self-selection into a treatment. In the present paper, we first consider estimation of sample selection models and treatment effects using a fully parametric approach, where the error distribution is assumed to be normal in both primary and selection equations. Arbitrary time dependence in errors is permitted. Estimation of both coefficients and partial effects, as well as tests for selection bias, are discussed. Furthermore, we consider a semiparametric estimator of binary response panel data models with sample selection that is robust to a variety of error distributions. The estimator employs a control function approach to account for endogenous selection and permits consistent estimation of scaled coefficients and relative effects. Show less

For decades, augmented reality has been used to allow a person to visualize an overlay of annotations, videos, and images on physical objects using a camera. Due to the high computational processing cost that is required to match an image from among an enormous number of images, it has been daunting to use the concept of augmented reality on a smartphone without significant processing delays. Although the Global Positioning System (GPS) can be very useful for the outdoor localization of an... Show moreFor decades, augmented reality has been used to allow a person to visualize an overlay of annotations, videos, and images on physical objects using a camera. Due to the high computational processing cost that is required to match an image from among an enormous number of images, it has been daunting to use the concept of augmented reality on a smartphone without significant processing delays. Although the Global Positioning System (GPS) can be very useful for the outdoor localization of an object, GPS is not suitable for indoor localization. To address the problem of indoor localization, we propose using mobile augmented reality in an indoor environment. Since most smartphones have many useful sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers and Wi-Fi sensors, we can leverage these sensors to locate the phone’s location, the phone’s field of view, and the phone’s angle of view. Using Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) based on processing data from several smartphone sensors, we can achieve indoor localization with reduced processing time. We tested MAR in simulated environments, and deployed the system in the Love building (LOV) at Florida State University. We used 200 images in the simulated environment, and compared the matching processing time between multiple object recognition algorithms and reduced the matching time from 2.8 seconds to only 0.17 second using a brisk algorithm. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_FALL2017_Alahmadi_fsu_0071N_13939

Format

Thesis

Title

Faculty and Administrators' Sensemaking of Faculty Research Policies: A Case of a Saudi University.

The increasing pressure to increase research productivity in higher education institutions (HEIs) has led many universities to regulate faculty research activities through various accountability and incentive policies around the globe. However, few empirical studies have been conducted to understand how university administrators and faculty make sense of these policies and implement them. The study sought to understand how faculty and administrators from two disciplinary areas (health and... Show moreThe increasing pressure to increase research productivity in higher education institutions (HEIs) has led many universities to regulate faculty research activities through various accountability and incentive policies around the globe. However, few empirical studies have been conducted to understand how university administrators and faculty make sense of these policies and implement them. The study sought to understand how faculty and administrators from two disciplinary areas (health and arts/science/education), at a Saudi university, understand, perceive and make sense of the university faculty research policies, while highlighting variation among the different levels of institutional actors. The use of the sensemaking theory provided an in-depth analysis of how research policies unfold at the practice level, while accounting for the power structure based on the faculty nationalities. The findings revealed divergent perceptions among the different levels of institutional actors, which resulted in resistance among the implementers, and negative consequences on the faculty’s morale and commitment. Furthermore, it highlighted the lack of involvement of faculty in decision-making as well as the lack of organizational changes as barriers to policy implementation. Show less

Microwave chemistry has long been a subject of interest in both the organic and inorganic synthesis communities. Microwave heating has the potential to become a powerful force for green synthesis in industry as it uses much less power to accomplish the same goals, but a lack of understanding in how to translate traditional convective reactions into microwave reactions is hampering this progress. In this manuscript an overview of microwave physics and mathematics is given first. Then the role... Show moreMicrowave chemistry has long been a subject of interest in both the organic and inorganic synthesis communities. Microwave heating has the potential to become a powerful force for green synthesis in industry as it uses much less power to accomplish the same goals, but a lack of understanding in how to translate traditional convective reactions into microwave reactions is hampering this progress. In this manuscript an overview of microwave physics and mathematics is given first. Then the role of microwave source and choice of microwave reaction vessel, along with precursor and solvent choice in the design of a microwave chemical reaction is explored. Next, synthesis of nickel and gold nanoparticles—chosen because of their ubiquitous nature in the literature—in a microwave is explored, and the kinetics examined. Additionally, the role of size dependent properties of the nanoparticles, as well as the role of the oxide layer on the nanoparticle, are explored in relationship to how the reaction heats in a standard laboratory microwave. Lastly, the role of power and frequency of the microwave radiation in the synthesis of nickel nanoparticles is examined, and relationships between the kinetics of the synthesis and the applied power and frequency of the microwave is extracted. Show less

Assimilatory NADPH-dependent sulfite reductase (SiR) is the enzyme responsible for the six-electron reduction of sulfite to sulfide. In Enterobacteria, SiR is a dodecameric complex with two subunits: an octameric flavin-containing SiRFP, and four copies of a monomeric iron-containing subunit (SiRHP). SiRFP is a homologous to cytochrome P-450 reductase (CYP), each of which has three main domains: NADPH/FAD-binding domain, FMN-binding domain and a connecting domain that is responsible of the... Show moreAssimilatory NADPH-dependent sulfite reductase (SiR) is the enzyme responsible for the six-electron reduction of sulfite to sulfide. In Enterobacteria, SiR is a dodecameric complex with two subunits: an octameric flavin-containing SiRFP, and four copies of a monomeric iron-containing subunit (SiRHP). SiRFP is a homologous to cytochrome P-450 reductase (CYP), each of which has three main domains: NADPH/FAD-binding domain, FMN-binding domain and a connecting domain that is responsible of the relative orientation of the other two domains. However, SiRFP differs from CYP because SiRFP is a soluble protein that forms an octamer through its first 51 residues and is a stable complex with the oxidase subunit. SiRHP has a Fe4S4 cluster and a siroheme cofactor in its active site. In the SiR holoenzyme electrons flow from NADPH to FAD to FMN in SiRFP and from the FMN cofactor to SiRHP. SiRFP, SiRHP, and PAPS sulfotransferase, another enzyme required for sulfate assimilation, are encoded by three genes in the cysJIH operon, therefore, they can be independently expressed and purified. In this way, each subunit has been characterized structural and functionally, however the structure of the SiR holoenzyme remains ill defined. Therefore, the main aim of this dissertation is to understand SiR assembly and the mechanism of electron transfer between subunits. I made important advances in understanding SiR’s subunit interactions by the use of a variety of biochemical and structural techniques. First, we confirmed the stoichiometry of the holoenzyme as an α8β4 complex. I further discovered that in this complex, SiRFP has two interfaces with SiRHP. The Region 1, is in SiRFP’s C-terminus and it is responsible for forming the stable interaction between each SiR subunits. Region 2 is in SiRFP’s N-terminus and we hypothesize that it is involved in a transient interaction with SiRHP and, such as, is the one required for electron transfer between subunits. My more detailed characterization shows that complex formation depends on hydrophobic interactions between the subunits. In further characterization this interaction, I identified three regions of predicted intrinsically disorder/disorder-based binding sites in each subunit that are required for SiR assemble and function. First, the N-terminus of SiRHP has characteristics of a disorder-base binding region, and it is required for holoenzyme complex formation. Second, the N-terminus of SiRFP is required for octamerization of this subunit. Third, the linker between the FMN-binding domain and FAD/NADPH binding domain is also an intrinsically disorder region that orients the FMN-domain relative to rest of the complex. As result of my experiments, I propose a model for electron transfer in which all SiRFP subunits participate in electron transfer to SiRHP. This model explains the high efficiency of the complex that is observed by the absence of partially reduced sulfur-oxygen intermediates. Additionally, advances were made to prepare cryo-electron microscopy samples of SiR based in the new insights into SiR’s structural characteristics. Additionally, a new reductionist approach using x-ray crystallography is proposed to better study SiR subunits interactions. Show less

One of the goals of biology is to be able to understand the structure and interaction of macromolecules, to be able to better understand life at a macromolecular level. One of the most important inventions that revolutionized the study of macromolecular structures is that of the electron microscope. Electron microscopes are used for studying three dimensional structures of macromolecular assemblies using 2D and 3D geometry. The underlying principle of 3D reconstruction from 2D projections is... Show moreOne of the goals of biology is to be able to understand the structure and interaction of macromolecules, to be able to better understand life at a macromolecular level. One of the most important inventions that revolutionized the study of macromolecular structures is that of the electron microscope. Electron microscopes are used for studying three dimensional structures of macromolecular assemblies using 2D and 3D geometry. The underlying principle of 3D reconstruction from 2D projections is well understood and forms the basis of electron microscopy. Depending on the type of structure under investigation, either electron tomography is used where the structures are heterogeneous or in case that they are homogeneous single particle electron microscopy is used. Whatever be the underlying source of the data, tomography or single particle, they involve significant amounts of computational problems. Many of these problems have been studied in other branches of computer science, like in computer vision and machine learning. However, until very recently, there has not been a significant exchange of ideas between these two disparate communities. This work is a step in that direction. We study two problems: the first related to the well-studied problem of segmentation but in the context of electron tomography. The second relates to that of studying the macromolecular structure of actin-myosin interaction using 3D reconstruction of single particle electron microscopic data. We hope that this would be the beginning of a formal interaction between the two fields that has the potential to enrich each other tremendously. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_FALL2017_BanerjeeMukherjee_fsu_0071E_14065

Format

Thesis

Title

Morphometric Analysis of Shape Differences in Windover and Point Hope Archaic Human Mandibles.

The mandible can provide valuable information on both the life history and genetic makeup of Archaic human populations. If two genetically separated Homo sapiens populations practice differing dietary behaviors, one may expect to see significant variation in mandibular morphology. The following analysis tests two hypotheses: (1) that there are significant differences in morphology in mandibular shape between the sexes amongst Archaic North American H. sapiens and (2) that there is a... Show moreThe mandible can provide valuable information on both the life history and genetic makeup of Archaic human populations. If two genetically separated Homo sapiens populations practice differing dietary behaviors, one may expect to see significant variation in mandibular morphology. The following analysis tests two hypotheses: (1) that there are significant differences in morphology in mandibular shape between the sexes amongst Archaic North American H. sapiens and (2) that there is a significant difference in variance in mandibular shape between Archaic Floridian and Alaskan H. sapiens. The Archaic Floridian H. sapiens are taken from the Windover burial site and the Alaskan H. sapiens are taken from the Point Hope burial site. A sample made from mandible specimens taken from both populations is subjected to Principal Component Analyses (PCA). The component scores from the PCAs are subjected to both a Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) and general Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) to determine whether significant differences in variance exist between the sexes and the populations. The MANCOVA found that there were no significant interactions between the PC scores between populations, sexes, or size. Significant differences in variance were found between males and females and between the Windover and Point Hope populations. Differences in variance observed between the populations are suspected to be due to differences in subsistence strategies. Differences in variance between the sexes are suspected to be genetic in origin. Show less

Propagation of laser beams through complex flow field caused by radar system housing has been an important topic for many years dating back to the mid 1960s. Applications for radar systems range from missile defense, directed energy to target designation and tracking. Complications are introduced when laser systems are no longer stationed on the ground, but instead mounted on airplanes traveling at subsonic, transonic and supersonic speeds. Housing systems have been developed with a variety... Show morePropagation of laser beams through complex flow field caused by radar system housing has been an important topic for many years dating back to the mid 1960s. Applications for radar systems range from missile defense, directed energy to target designation and tracking. Complications are introduced when laser systems are no longer stationed on the ground, but instead mounted on airplanes traveling at subsonic, transonic and supersonic speeds. Housing systems have been developed with a variety of different designs with some designs more optimal for decreasing laser aberrations than others. The work presented strives to characterize flow around a hemispherical configuration (D = 10.16 cm) for a turret housing system in the supersonic flow regime. Multiple diagnostic tests were conducted at the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion in the Polysonic Wind Tunnel Facility. Shadowgraph visualization, surface oil flow visualization, static pressure and unsteady pressure data characterized the complicated supersonic flow field around a hemisphere. Observations were conducted at Mach 2 while Reynolds number changed, ReD = 1.8 ∗ 106 and ReD = 3.6 ∗ 106. Complex shock system consisting of a lambda shock and detached bow shock were observed upstream of the hemisphere center through shadowgraph images. While a shock-let system was developed between the foot of the lambda shock and the detached bow shock from the unsteady boundary layer shockwave interaction. Surface oil flow visualization accented the development of an axisymmetric horseshoe vortex and the presence of a secondary shock location upstream of the hemisphere. A centerline static pressure distribution quantified the visualization techniques. A stagnation point of 30◦ was observed on the body for both ReD case. While, flow separation occurred at slightly different locations on the hemisphere; flow separated at 103◦ for ReD = 1.8∗106 and 107◦ for the ReD = 3.6 ∗ 106. Location of flow separation is further strengthen by the unsteady pressure data as the energy fluctuations are less on the separation line for the different Re cases. The study found that flow structures for different ReD cases were similar, except for the strength of the different flow features; as the flow feature magnitudes were greater for ReD = 3.6 ∗ 106 case. Also observed from the unsteady pressure measurement data, the wake structure behind the hemisphere were different in nature as the wake structure for the ReD = 1.8 ∗ 106 case was larger than the ReD = 3.6 ∗ 106 case. Planar Particle Image Velocimetry was conducted in the Pilot Wind Tunnel Facility at the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion on a dynamically similar flow (M = 2,ReD = 1.8∗106). Planar PIV for different Z/D planes were also measured on a D = 19.05 mm hemisphere, which highlighted the presence of an expansion fan at the apex of the hemisphere with decreasing effects on the external flow field as flow moved further away from the centerline of the hemisphere. The results presented in this work characterized supersonic flow around a hemisphere and has laid the groundwork for the development of active or passive flow control techniques in order to minimize flow structures, which ultimately lead to less aero-optical aberrations. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_FALL2017_Carnrike_fsu_0071N_14262

Format

Thesis

Title

Art, History, and the Creation of Monastic Identity at Late Medieval St. Albans Abbey.

Although later medieval St. Albans Abbey has long been renowned as a preeminent center for the writing of historical chronicles, previous studies have not acknowledged that the monastic community also had a sustained tradition of visually representing the house’s institutional history. This dissertation demonstrates that between the late eleventh and early sixteenth centuries, the monks of St. Albans depicted and evoked their abbey’s past in a large and diverse collection of artworks, ranging... Show moreAlthough later medieval St. Albans Abbey has long been renowned as a preeminent center for the writing of historical chronicles, previous studies have not acknowledged that the monastic community also had a sustained tradition of visually representing the house’s institutional history. This dissertation demonstrates that between the late eleventh and early sixteenth centuries, the monks of St. Albans depicted and evoked their abbey’s past in a large and diverse collection of artworks, ranging from illuminated manuscripts and pilgrim badges to monumental paintings and architecture. Monastic historical imagery was rarely produced during the Middle Ages, but the images and objects from St. Albans present a remarkably rich and complete account of the abbey’s history from the time of its illustrious origins through the eve of its dissolution. Using an interdisciplinary approach to contextualize these artworks within the monastery’s history and traditions, this study argues that the visual historiography of St. Albans served as a potent vehicle for the expression and self-fashioning of the abbey’s corporate identity and historical memory. As will be demonstrated, this vast corpus of imagery focuses on three fundamental elements of the monastery’s past: Saint Alban and his early cult, the eighth-century foundation of the monastery by King Offa of Mercia, and the house’s post-foundation history. Through these artworks, many of which have not previously received the attention of art historians, the monks of St. Albans documented, celebrated, and occasionally manipulated their abbey’s long and distinguished history, thereby providing a compelling justification for its continued prosperity and prestige. Show less

Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a multifunctional transcription factor that can activate or repress transcription depending on the promotor and/or the co-factors recruited. YY1 is phosphorylated in various signaling pathways and is critical for different biological functions including embryogenesis, apoptosis, proliferation, cell-cycle regulation and tumorigenesis. Here we report that YY1 is a substrate of two different tyrosine kinases. First, c-Abl kinase phosphorylates YY1 at conserved residue Y254 in... Show moreYin Yang 1 (YY1) is a multifunctional transcription factor that can activate or repress transcription depending on the promotor and/or the co-factors recruited. YY1 is phosphorylated in various signaling pathways and is critical for different biological functions including embryogenesis, apoptosis, proliferation, cell-cycle regulation and tumorigenesis. Here we report that YY1 is a substrate of two different tyrosine kinases. First, c-Abl kinase phosphorylates YY1 at conserved residue Y254 in the spacer region. Pharmacological inhibition of c-Abl kinase by imatinib, nilotinib and GZD824, knock-down of c-Abl using siRNA and the use of c-Abl kinase-dead drastically reduces tyrosine phosphorylation of YY1. Both radioactive and non-radioactive in vitro kinase assays, as well as co-immunoprecipitation in different cell lines, show that the target of c-Abl phosphorylation is tyrosine residue 254. c-Abl phosphorylation has little effect on YY1 DNA binding ability or cellular localization in asynchronous cells. However, functional studies revealed that c-Abl mediated phosphorylation of YY1 regulated YY1’s transcriptional ability in vivo. Secondly, we show that YY1 is phosphorylated by non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src and this phosphorylation is mediated by the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Kit signaling pathway at tyrosine residue 251. Computational prediction using GPS 3.0 identified Src as a possible kinase that could target YY1 for tyrosine phosphorylation. The use of a highly sensitive phospho-specific antibody against phosphorylated Y251 in combination with non-radioactive in vitro kinase assay show that Src phosphorylates YY1 in vitro. Pharmacological inhibition of both c-Kit and Src kinase caused a great reduction in tyrosine phosphorylation of YY1 at Y251. The use of SCF ligand to stimulate c-Kit kinase show that YY1 may be a target of Src kinase phosphorylation under the c-Kit signaling cascade at Y251. Ongoing research includes the generation of phospho-mutations at tyrosine 251 using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tool to uncover the biological significance of this phosphorylation. In conclusion, we demonstrate the novel role of c-Abl kinase in regulation of YY1’s transcriptional activity, linking YY1 regulation with the c-Abl tyrosine kinase signaling pathways. We also link YY1 phosphorylation to the c-Kit receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathway. Because errors in signaling result in cancer growth and other disease, understanding the dynamic cellular processes of YY1 phosphorylation by tyrosine kinases will lead to a better understanding of the signaling networks within the cell leading to more effective treatment for disease. Show less

Flux synthesis of new complex compounds uses an excess of molten metals or salts as a reaction medium. This solution-based method is a valuable tool in materials synthesis, enabling the solid-state chemist to achieve reactivity at relatively low temperatures compared to traditional solid-state reactions. A growing effort in the field of flux synthetic chemistry is to enable the directed synthesis of materials. This entails being able to predict products that will form, or at least the... Show moreFlux synthesis of new complex compounds uses an excess of molten metals or salts as a reaction medium. This solution-based method is a valuable tool in materials synthesis, enabling the solid-state chemist to achieve reactivity at relatively low temperatures compared to traditional solid-state reactions. A growing effort in the field of flux synthetic chemistry is to enable the directed synthesis of materials. This entails being able to predict products that will form, or at least the building blocks that will be incorporated into the products. It is therefore necessary to explore various flux systems in order to develop trends that will better help chemists understand the mechanisms by which compounds and their building blocks form. To this end, two flux mixtures, Ca/Li and Yb/Li, were explored and several new complex compounds were discovered which feature a range of structural and electronic properties. Calcium and ytterbium commonly form solid solutions in compounds due to similarities in their ionic radii and valence. Calcium melts above 800°C, but the addition of lithium lowers this melting point drastically to around 300°C. Unfortunately, there is no phase diagram for mixtures of ytterbium and lithium, so attempts to grow new crystals in this melt was largely speculative on the basis that ytterbium may behave similarly to calcium and produce a low-temperature solution when mixed with sufficient lithium. This is supported by the fact that ytterbium has a similar melting point to calcium, and binary phase diagrams incorporating ytterbium or calcium mixed with other metals feature similar trends. Ca/Li flux is able to dissolve refractory elements such as carbon, as well as salts such as Ca3N2 and CaH2. New carbide and hydride compounds formed from Yb/Li flux suggest similar capabilities, however reactivity with nitride salts is still undetermined. Electropositive fluxes in general are useful solvents for the growth of new complex carbides, nitrides and hydrides. Compounds containing these light elements are extremely important for many industrial applications. Therefore, further exploration into making new complex compounds incorporating them is merited. Several new compounds including Ca12InC13-x, Ca6Te3N2, Ca6(LixFe1-x)Te2N3, Ca8In2SiN4, Ca3SiN3H, and Yb~51In13H27 were synthesized from either Ca/Li or Yb/Li flux mixtures. Their synthesis, structural and electronic properties, as well as potential applications are discussed herein. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_FALL2017_Dickman_fsu_0071E_14197

Format

Thesis

Title

Brazilian Portuguese Lyric Diction for American Singers and Antônio Carlos Gomes: His Life and Musical Style within the Transitional Period from Bel Canto to Verismo.

The purpose of this document is to make the reader aware of two areas of vocal Brazilian music that have long been neglected, and are now receiving the attention of researchers and performers: Brazilian Portuguese lyric diction and the operas of Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Gomes. Many people are familiar with popular genres of Brazilian music. The samba, bossa nova, choro and the driving rhythms associated with carnival dances are widely popular among the general public. However, few... Show moreThe purpose of this document is to make the reader aware of two areas of vocal Brazilian music that have long been neglected, and are now receiving the attention of researchers and performers: Brazilian Portuguese lyric diction and the operas of Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos Gomes. Many people are familiar with popular genres of Brazilian music. The samba, bossa nova, choro and the driving rhythms associated with carnival dances are widely popular among the general public. However, few are familiar with the classical vocal repertoire. The first section is dedicated to pedagogical tools for teaching Brazilian Portuguese diction. American singers will find the process of preparing Brazilian repertoire more accessible with this concise but objective guide. The second half is a discussion of the operatic works of Antônio Carlos Gomes, with focus on Gomes as a transitional figure from the bel canto to verismo in Italy in the second half the 19th century, as well as his contributions to the operatic repertoire. Show less

This dissertation discloses the work of two research projects: the synthesis and study of twisted cycloalkynes for click chemistry and traceless directing groups used in radical cascade cyclizations. The structural design of the cycloalkynes incorporates a “twisted and bent” motif that disrupts the interaction between donor and acceptor groups. This accumulation of electronic energy in the twisted cycloalkyne is released in the transition state when the backbone structurally reorganizes and... Show moreThis dissertation discloses the work of two research projects: the synthesis and study of twisted cycloalkynes for click chemistry and traceless directing groups used in radical cascade cyclizations. The structural design of the cycloalkynes incorporates a “twisted and bent” motif that disrupts the interaction between donor and acceptor groups. This accumulation of electronic energy in the twisted cycloalkyne is released in the transition state when the backbone structurally reorganizes and restores optimal conjugation at a remote location from the reacting alkyne center, providing a new way to control click reactivity through remote activation. An experimental confirmation of the proposed connection between structural changes and electronic effects was investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy of the starting 2,2’-biaryl nucleophiles, cyclodecynes, and the triazole products. Furthermore, these twisted cycloalkynes make axial chirality a new molecular property that can be introduced by click chemistry. The synthesis of the cycloalkynes has been optimized to a gram-scale, one-step protocol that involves a strategically simple nucleophilic substitution reaction. The cyclization step avoids the use of alkyne protecting groups and six of the endogenous atoms come from commercially available 2,2’-biaryl sources and purification is accomplished through recrystallization. Because the cyclization proceeds without chiral racemization under basic conditions, synthesis of enantiopure cycloalkynes can be made from chiral starting materials. Circular dichroism spectroscopy demonstrated the biaryl backbone of the starting materials controls the chiroptical properties of the cycloalkynes. Several representative cyclodecynes were investigated to compare the reactivity with activated cyclononynes and seminal cyclooctyne. The click cycloaddition rate constants of cyclodecynes outcompete the smaller activated cyclononynes and even approach the reactivity of cyclooctyne. Rate enhancement in the cyclodecynes stems from the endocyclic heteroatoms that provide dual transition state (TS) stabilization via hyperconjugative (direct) and conjugative (remote) effects. Oligoalkynes are precursors that can be used for the preparation of carbon-rich polyaromatics. They can undergo radical cascade cyclizations in the presence of a Sn-radical source through chemo- and regioselective initiation. To assist the attack of the Sn-radical at the xii correct alkyne, a propargylic alkoxy group was installed. Through a sequence of exo-cyclizations that “zip up” the oligoalkyne backbone, the radical returns to the site of initial attack in a “boomerang” fashion. The key radical intermediate, the radical adjacent to the alkoxy group stabilized by an electron rich alkyltin group, furnishes the aromatized product through β-scission to form an alkoxy radical, rendering the directing group, traceless. Though computational analysis rendered the sequence of transformations favorable and a plausible mechanistic pathway, generation of an alkoxy radical is an unlikely scenario considering the barrier for C–O scission is relatively high. Because this pathway was a mechanistic ambiguity, a second termination step was considered: H-abstraction followed by elimination of an alcohol coupled with aromatization. This indirect route included an additional step in the overall cascade but avoids formation of the alkoxy radical intermediate. However, several key experiments and computational evidence demonstrated the direct route, formation of the alkoxy radical, is the preferred outcome. One experiment used a traceless directing group which was designed to incorporate a “weak-link” tether and radical stabilizing group to help facilitate β-scission of the alkoxy radical. This fragmentation generates formaldehyde and a radical that is finally quenched to a non-volatile product that is characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The alternative route does not occur because the alcohol product of the indirect path was not observed. Additionally, a separate trapping experiment used an electron rich vinyl silyl ether to trap the putative alkoxy radical. Show less

Spin crossover (SCO) is a physical phenomenon whereby certain transition metal ions exhibit a change in magnetic state under the influence of external stimuli such as temperature, pressure, or light. SCO is most commonly observed in complexes of the Fe(II) cation when an intermediate-strength ligand field is achieved, most commonly with six coordinating nitrogen atoms. New organic molecules synthesized in this work belong to the 2,2’-bisimidazole (bim) family of ligands and are sought to... Show moreSpin crossover (SCO) is a physical phenomenon whereby certain transition metal ions exhibit a change in magnetic state under the influence of external stimuli such as temperature, pressure, or light. SCO is most commonly observed in complexes of the Fe(II) cation when an intermediate-strength ligand field is achieved, most commonly with six coordinating nitrogen atoms. New organic molecules synthesized in this work belong to the 2,2’-bisimidazole (bim) family of ligands and are sought to induce SCO in a variety of Fe(II) complexes. Several novel bim derivatives were targeted to afford different functionality. Their synthesis required careful reaction optimization studies, which were conducted on a small scale and analyzed primarily using 1H-NMR spectroscopy. After optimizing and scaling up the ligand synthesis, the resulting purified bim derivatives were reacted with various Fe(II) salts to furnish mononuclear complexes, which were characterized by single crystal x-ray diffraction and SQUID magnetometry, as well as high-resolution mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. Both homoleptic and heteroleptic complexes of newly obtained bim derivatives were synthesized. In the case of homoleptic complexes, a range of SCO behaviors was observed, with spin transitions taking place at significantly different temperatures and with varying degree of abruptness. These differences can be explained by intricate structure-property relationships uncovered by the complimentary results provided by single-crystal x-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. Various heteroleptic Fe(II) complexes containing a bim-type ligand and a tetradentate “capping” ligand were also synthesized and characterized for potential SCO behavior. The tetradentate capping ligands used included N4-donating ligands, leading to the typical N6 coordination environments, as well as N2S2-donating ligands, leading to the N4S2 coordination, which is more exotic among known SCO complexes. The spin-state energetics in these complexes was also assessed with electronic structure calculations at the density-functional level of theory. Insight into forecasting SCO behavior in homoleptic complexes of bidentate ligands was achieved via data-mining of the Cambridge Structural Database. This analysis led to an empirical rule, which uses the N-N chelating distance in bidentate ligands to predict the spin-state of the Fe(II) complex. This empirical rule was backed by DFT calculations. The combination of experimental design and theoretical investigations into novel Fe(II) SCO complexes with functionalized bisimidazole-type ligands, as presented in this Thesis, advances the knowledge of spin-state switching in transition metal complexes and inches towards more applied studies of functionalized SCO materials. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_FALL2017_Hrudka_fsu_0071E_14255

Format

Thesis

Title

Neuromodulation of Mitral Cells by Serotonin and GLP-1 Neurons in the Olfactory Bulb and the Consequences of Gene Deletion of Kv1.3.

Neuromodulation plays important roles in adjusting our nervous system to produce behaviors. The same neuromodulator could have different effects on different targets, or the same target could be modulated by multiple neuromodulators. In the first project of my dissertation I investigated differential modulation of mitral cells (MCs) contained in the main (MOB) and accessory (AOB) olfactory bulb by serotonin (5-HT) using an in vitro, brain slice approach in postnatal (P15-30) day mice. In the... Show moreNeuromodulation plays important roles in adjusting our nervous system to produce behaviors. The same neuromodulator could have different effects on different targets, or the same target could be modulated by multiple neuromodulators. In the first project of my dissertation I investigated differential modulation of mitral cells (MCs) contained in the main (MOB) and accessory (AOB) olfactory bulb by serotonin (5-HT) using an in vitro, brain slice approach in postnatal (P15-30) day mice. In the MOB, 5-HT elicited three types of responses in 94% of 158 cells tested. Cells were either directly excited (73%, n = 115), inhibited (9%, n = 15), or showed a mixed response −first inhibition followed by excitation (12%, n = 19). In the AOB, 83% of 115 cells were inhibited with 17% of cells showing no response. Albeit located in parallel partitions of the olfactory system, 5-HT largely elicited excitation of MOB MCs while it evoked two different kinetic rates of inhibition in MCs of the AOB. Using a combination of pharmacological agents, I found that the excitatory responses in MOB MCs were mediated by 5-HT2A receptors through a direct activation. In comparison, 5-HT-evoked inhibitory responses in the AOB arose due to a polysynaptic, slow-onset inhibition attributed to 5-HT2 receptor activation exciting GABAergic interneurons. The second type of inhibition had a rapid onset as a result of direct inhibition mediated by the 5-HT1 class of receptors. The distinct serotonergic modulation of MCs between the MOB and AOB could provide a molecular basis for differential chemosensory behaviors driven by the brainstem raphe nuclei into these parallel systems. In the second project of my dissertation, I explored the modulation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) neurons in the olfactory bulb (OB). A population of GLP-1 neurons was recently discovered in the OB. The functions of these neurons remain incompletely understood. Herein, I used an in vitro, brain slice approach to investigate the modulations of GLP-1 neurons. Juvenile mice (P20 to P45) of both sexes were used to examine the involvement of centrifugal projections from higher brain areas including serotonergic, cholinergic, and noradrenergic afferents. Bath application of serotonin (40 µM, n = 4) and norepinephrine (100 µM, n = 4) had no effect on the evoked firing frequency. Acetylcholine (ACh; 100 µM), however, led to either inhibition or excitation of GLP-1 neurons. For inhibition, ACh induced a small outward current (5.1 ± 1.8 pA, n = 9) recorded by voltage-clamp when neurons were held at −70 mV. When recorded in current-clamp mode, ACh delayed the latency to first spike (control: 253 ± 30 ms, ACh: 396 ± 4 ms; n = 2). For excitation, bath application of ACh resulted in 1.9 ± 0.6-fold increase in firing frequency (n = 21). Previous evidence showed that GLP-1 neurons in the brainstem could be modulated by metabolic-related hormones such as leptin and cholecystokinin (CCK). I found that GLP-1 neurons could be modulated by CCK, but not by leptin. Bath application of CCK (0.8 µM) led to either cessation of firing (n = 10) or an increase in firing of 1.7 ± 0.4-fold (n = 11). Lastly, mice were injected intraperitoneally with the GLP-1 analogue Exendin-4 (0.4 µM /kg) or control saline and tested 30 minutes post injection in a habituation-dishabituation odor test. Mice receiving Exendin-4 failed to show significant dishabituation, demonstrating impaired ability to discriminate a novel odor from a familiar odor. One primary target of neuromodulation is ion channels. Depending on which group of neurons and in which brain region it is expressed, the same type of ion channel can contribute to multiple functions. In the third project of my dissertation I examined the consequences of loss of function of voltage-gated potassium channel Kv1.3. It has long been recognized that olfaction and emotion are linked. My study aimed to investigate the roles of olfaction in modulating anxiety. Kv1.3 knockout mice (Kv1.3-/-), which have heightened olfaction, and wild-type (WT) mice were examined for anxiety-like behaviors. Because Kv1.3-/- mice have also been observed to show increased locomotor activity, which is one behavior reported in animal models of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), inattentive behavior was quantified for both genotypes. Kv1.3-/- mice showed increased anxiety levels compared to their WT counterparts and administration of methylphenidate (MPH) via oral gavage alleviated their increased anxiety. Object-based attention testing indicated Kv1.3-/- mice had attention deficits and treatment with MPH also ameliorated this condition. My data suggest that heightened olfaction does not necessarily lead to decreased anxiety levels, and that Kv1.3-/- mice may be used as a behavioral model of the inattentive subtype of ADHD. Show less

Mass spectrometry (MS) has become an important analytical method for proteomic research due to its high mass accuracy, resolution, and selectivity. Even though the traditional bottom-up MS-based method is still a widespread routine for proteomic analysis, middle- and top-down approaches should provide more comprehensive characterization of proteins isoforms and post-translational modifications (PTMs) due to their capabilities of maintaining the connectivity between modifications. The Fourier... Show moreMass spectrometry (MS) has become an important analytical method for proteomic research due to its high mass accuracy, resolution, and selectivity. Even though the traditional bottom-up MS-based method is still a widespread routine for proteomic analysis, middle- and top-down approaches should provide more comprehensive characterization of proteins isoforms and post-translational modifications (PTMs) due to their capabilities of maintaining the connectivity between modifications. The Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer equipped with multiple efficient fragmentation techniques offers the ultrahigh mass accuracy and resolution to enable separation and assignment of overlapped precursor and fragment spectral peaks from extremely complex spectra without ambiguity, which gives us great advantages in middle- and top-down MS-based proteomic analysis. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_FALL2017_Jiang_fsu_0071E_14207

Format

Thesis

Title

Insights into the Complex Formation between Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase and a Highly Polymorphic DNA G-Quadruplex.

Non-canonical forms of DNA like the guanine quadruplex (G4) play important roles in regulating transcription and translation through interactions with their protein partners. G4s comprise a class of nucleic acid structures formed by stacking of guanine base quartets in a quadruple helix. This G4 DNA can form within or across single stranded DNA molecules and is mutually exclusive with duplex B-form DNA. The core of a G4 is formed in G-rich stretches of DNA by Hoogsteen base-paired guanines... Show moreNon-canonical forms of DNA like the guanine quadruplex (G4) play important roles in regulating transcription and translation through interactions with their protein partners. G4s comprise a class of nucleic acid structures formed by stacking of guanine base quartets in a quadruple helix. This G4 DNA can form within or across single stranded DNA molecules and is mutually exclusive with duplex B-form DNA. The core of a G4 is formed in G-rich stretches of DNA by Hoogsteen base-paired guanines that assemble as planar stacks, stabilized by a central cation like K+. These structures are reversible and structurally diverse, which makes them highly versatile genetic structures, as demonstrated by their roles in various functions including DNA replication, transcription, translation and telomere metabolism. The structural information on protein-G4 complexes remains scarce, especially little is known about G4-interacting proteins in the plant kingdom. In the present study, we addressed the following aims to tackle this deficiency: 1. Bioinformatically determine the abundance and localization of putative G4s in maize, a model organism for plant species; 2. Identify plant G4-binding proteins by expression library screening. 3. Analyze the structural heterogeneity of a polymorphic G4-forming oligonucleotide hex4_A5U. 4. Structurally characterize complex formation between hex4_A5U G4 and a G4-binding protein ZmNDPK1 using cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM). G4 forming sequences were first identified in telomeres and then recognized in other genomic loci. To investigate their potential roles in a large-genome model plant species, we computationally identified 149,988 canonical non-telomeric putative G4s in maize, 29 percent of which were in non-repetitive genomic regions. Putative G4 hotspots exhibited non-random enrichment in genes at three locations: one on the antisense strand in the 5‘UTR (A5U class); second one also on the antisense strand at the 5’ end of the first intron (A5I class); and third one on the sense strand adjacent to transcription start site (ATG class). Maize hexokinase4 gene has one G4 from each class (hex4_A5U, hex4_A5I and hex4_AUG) which we shown to form G4s in vitro. Overall the G4 motifs were prevalent in key regulatory genes associated with hypoxia, oxidative stress, and energy status pathways. Putative G4 elements have been identified in, or near, genes from species as diverse as bacteria, mammals, and plants, but little is known about how they might function as cis-regulatory elements or as binding sites for trans-acting protein partners. In fact, until now, no G4 binding partners have been identified in the plant kingdom. Here, we report on the identification, cloning and characterization of the first plant-kingdom gene known to encode a G4-binding protein, maize (Zea mays L.) Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase1 (ZmNDPK1). Structural characterization by X-ray crystallography reveals that it is a homohexamer, akin to other known NDPKs like the human homolog NM23-H2. Further probing into the G4-binding properties of both NDPK homologs shows that ZmNDPK1 possesses properties distinct from that of NM23-H2, which is known to interact with a G-rich sequence element upstream of the c-myc gene and, in doing so, modulate its expression. We also demonstrate that the G4-binding activity of ZmNDPK1 is independent of nucleotide binding and kinase activity, suggesting that the G4-binding region and the enzyme active site are separate. Together, these findings establish a broad evolutionary conservation of some NDPKs as G4-DNA binding enzymes, but with potentially distinct biochemical properties that may reflect divergent evolution or species-specific deployment of these elements in gene regulatory processes. A single G4-forming sequence can adopt a variety of 3D structures depending on: strand order and orientation (parallel, antiparallel), number of tetrads in a core (two, three, four), identity of the central cation (K+, Na+) and presence of bulges in G-tracts. Here I investigate the conformational heterogeneity of a hex4_A5U. This sequence adopts extensive polymorphic G4 conformations including non-canonical bulged G4 folds that co-existed in solution. The nature of this polymorphism depends, in part, on the incorporation of different sets of adjacent guanines into a G4 core that allowed formation of the different conformations. Additionally, I show that the ZmNDPK1 specifically recognizes and promotes formation of a subset of these conformations. Show less

The current study extended upon previous research efforts by evaluating the utility and feasibility of an eight-session internet-based interpretation training protocol targeting evaluation- and appearance-related threat biases characteristic of the disorder compared to a progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) control condition. Assessments were administered at pre-treatment, one week post-treatment and three-month follow-up. Compared to the PMR group, individuals in the IBM condition reported... Show moreThe current study extended upon previous research efforts by evaluating the utility and feasibility of an eight-session internet-based interpretation training protocol targeting evaluation- and appearance-related threat biases characteristic of the disorder compared to a progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) control condition. Assessments were administered at pre-treatment, one week post-treatment and three-month follow-up. Compared to the PMR group, individuals in the IBM condition reported less negative/threat interpretation biases and greater positive/benign interpretation biases at post-treatment and follow-up. Among individuals low in pre-treatment depression symptoms, IBM led to lower BDD symptoms and lower negative/threat interpretation biases compared to PMR. There was no effect of condition for those with high pre-treatment depression symptoms for most outcomes. Further, among those with no depression diagnosis, IBM led to lower BDD symptoms at post-treatment, while the opposite was found among those with a depression diagnosis. IBM also led to lower negative/threat interpretation bias among those without a depression diagnosis compared to PMR, though there was no effect of condition for those with a depression diagnosis. Finally, moderated mediation analyses revealed that among individuals with no depression diagnosis, the effects of condition on symptom severity were accounted for by changes in threat interpretation bias. Overall, these findings provide helpful future directions for IBM research and provide an additional lens through which to examine its potential effectiveness for BDD. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_FALL2017_MathenyWilver_fsu_0071N_14242

Format

Thesis

Title

The Changing Face of Opera in America: Musical Theatre on the American Operatic Stage.

The publication and exchange of information surrounding musical theatre on the American operatic stage has previously focused on only a small sample of top-tier opera houses within the United States. There is a lack of comprehensive information that explicates the increasing occurrence of the musical theatre repertory within the twenty-first century’s operatic seasons. Qualitative and quantitative research of American opera companies adopting such models helps increase the transparency of... Show moreThe publication and exchange of information surrounding musical theatre on the American operatic stage has previously focused on only a small sample of top-tier opera houses within the United States. There is a lack of comprehensive information that explicates the increasing occurrence of the musical theatre repertory within the twenty-first century’s operatic seasons. Qualitative and quantitative research of American opera companies adopting such models helps increase the transparency of industry trends and their effects on opera’s evolving twenty-first century programming models. The main portion of this research focused on interviews with six industry professionals from recognized American opera houses known to produce musical theatre. Data was collected from company archives in conjunction with OPERA America’s membership directory and Operabase in order to identify the frequency with which musical theatre is programmed in these opera houses. Directors provided reasoning and explanations for programming selections and their effects on their respective organizations, highlighting any changes in audience size or demographic and the impact on the production and casting processes. Results show a significant increase in the number of musicals produced by American opera companies within the last ten years. The most frequently performed titles include Sweeney Todd, Candide, Show Boat, Man of La Mancha, and Carousel. Musical theatre is becoming more prevalent in twenty-first century operatic programming; for example, Lyric Opera of Chicago recently committed to producing all of the musicals of Rodgers and Hammerstein. If these types of trends continue, musical theatre may well find a new permanent home on the American operatic stage. Titles including Carousel, A Little Night Music, Man of La Mancha, South Pacific, and The King and I continue to be included within the operatic repertoire and may soon be as common an offering as La bohème or La traviata. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_FALL2017_Moniz_fsu_0071E_14192

Format

Thesis

Title

Grotesque Bodies in the Art and Literature of Mina Loy.

Creator

Patrick, Anna Marie, Gardner, Joann, Wakamiya, Lisa Ryoko, Epstein, Andrew, Kavka, Martin, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Program in Interdisciplinary... Show morePatrick, Anna Marie, Gardner, Joann, Wakamiya, Lisa Ryoko, Epstein, Andrew, Kavka, Martin, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Program in Interdisciplinary Humanities Show less

Abstract/Description

With reference to her poetry, prose, and visual arts from the 1910s to the 1950s, this dissertation considers Mina Loy’s representation of grotesque bodies within the context of the theory and artistic practice of early twentieth century avant-garde movements, particularly those most influential to her—Futurism, Dada, and Surrealism. With a focus on Loy’s representation of bodily processes, functions, or excretions and the unstable boundaries of aberrant bodies (e.g., women’s bodies, deformed... Show moreWith reference to her poetry, prose, and visual arts from the 1910s to the 1950s, this dissertation considers Mina Loy’s representation of grotesque bodies within the context of the theory and artistic practice of early twentieth century avant-garde movements, particularly those most influential to her—Futurism, Dada, and Surrealism. With a focus on Loy’s representation of bodily processes, functions, or excretions and the unstable boundaries of aberrant bodies (e.g., women’s bodies, deformed or disabled bodies, dead bodies), the present work argues that Loy’s deployment of the grotesque constitutes a strategy in negotiating a place between traditional and avant-garde cultures, or what Susan Suleiman calls the “double margin.” On the one hand, Loy’s grotesque bodies challenge the Victorian sanitized bodily ideal opposed to the unrestrained female or savage body. Yet they also parody the tendency of Futurist, Dadaist, and Surrealist art to reinforce the perception of woman as Other to a stable, male norm by gendering female the uncanny, abject, irrational, primitive, and deviant. Unlike a majority of her male counterparts, Loy intimates identification with the grotesque body. In addition to articulating her sense of difference, the grotesque body, with its precarious borders and mutability, often serves in Loy’s work as concrete manifestation of a confusion and interpenetration of categories presumed distinct. Since they undermine the symbolic scaffolding of Western patriarchal culture, these “conceptual” grotesques, or slippages between categories (e.g., self and other, domestic and public, the cerebral and carnal), have a powerful subversive potential. Show less

Date Issued

2017

Identifier

FSU_FALL2017_Patrick_fsu_0071E_14153

Format

Thesis

Title

Perceptions of Personalization for Academic and Social-Emotional Learning in High Schools: Social Cognitive and Ecological Perspectives.

This dissertation highlights the experience of personalization in schools in the context of high-stakes test-based education accountability policy. Historically, personalization has been understood to be essential to the teaching-learning enterprise. However, there have been variable understandings and applications of personalization in schools. Given education policy and core school activities, personalization tends to be slanted toward an academic focus and, consequently, its social... Show moreThis dissertation highlights the experience of personalization in schools in the context of high-stakes test-based education accountability policy. Historically, personalization has been understood to be essential to the teaching-learning enterprise. However, there have been variable understandings and applications of personalization in schools. Given education policy and core school activities, personalization tends to be slanted toward an academic focus and, consequently, its social-emotional core—social support based on adult-student relationships—tends to be downplayed. Also, students are usually viewed as passive recipients of school-related social support, rather than active agents in the shaping of their own school experiences. There is also a failure to adequately acknowledge the influence of external environments. This study subscribes to an expansive, yet integrative view of personalization, as it considers multiple interrelated concerns/facets and goals of education and development. The twin goals of this study are to explore students’ and school personnel’s perceptions of high school students’ personalization experiences in a high stakes accountability context and to understand how social-cognitive factors and ecological conditions might shape adults’ personalization practices and students’ personalization experiences. For this study, I adopted a relational-developmental systems framework, particularly as it is represented in Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems theory. Applying elements of this Bandura-Bronfenbrenner lens and related literature, I advanced the assumption that the reciprocal interplay among student characteristics (viz., self-concept, agentic beliefs/actions, future aspirations, engagement, sense of belonging), interpersonal processes (viz., adult-student relationships, social support, adult/teacher expectations), and sociostructural factors (viz., school-home interactions, accountability policy/demands) informs students’ personalization experiences and academic and social-emotional development. Working through a critical realist lens, I interrogated qualitative data drawn from the dataset of the National Center on Scaling up Effective Schools’ work in two higher-performing and two lower-performing Florida high schools with specific performance and accountability statuses. I used a qualitative multiple-case study approach. I conducted three forms of qualitative content analysis (directed, conventional, summative) to recode a subset of data from semi-structured interviews with 23 students, 48 teachers, and 12 guidance counselors across the four participating high schools. Findings are discussed in terms of the literature and limitations of the data. The study uncovered several consequential personalization practices, structures, and related experiences across the four case study schools. Most of these aspects were more evident in the higher-performing schools, with variations between schools of similar performance statuses. Important personalization structures included small learning communities (SLCs), looping, and extracurriculars; salient personalization practices involved reciprocal sharing and club sponsorship. The study demonstrates the personal-structural nature of personalization and the centrality of intentional social-emotional connections. However, further research is needed to understand the extent to which particular social support classifications reflect the emotional core of personalization. The findings in this study also indicate the presence of several notable student characteristics and experiences: universalized, positive academic self-conceptions; mastery experiences and social models as major sources of self-concept formation; widespread college-going aspirations; and differences in behavioral engagement and agency. These findings underscore students’ personal contributions to their school experiences and development in concert with their interactions with school personnel and other significant others. Schools and school personnel are therefore encouraged to provide needed “external assets” to foster students “self-concept formation,” enhance self-regulatory strategies, and establish structures geared toward the development of student agency. The study also found that patterns of school-home interactions/parental involvement were demarcated by the schools’ performance statuses. How and what schools communicate with families are likely issues that need to be addressed, particularly as it involves parental role constructions and academic socialization. Lastly, the findings identified consistently strong perceptions of pervasiveness in accountability demands with some variability in negative affect. Relatedly, evidence of accountability effects on teachers’ personalization practices was limited. The findings suggest that schools can transpose the experience of external accountability—through shared norms, values, and expectations—to high internal accountability reflective of school personnel’s strong sense of personal accountability. However, this study also highlights the need to consider the potential for “depersonalization” associated with the impingement of teachers’ professional integrity and identity due to high stress accountability demands. Limitations in the data suggest that more research is needed to clarify the accountability-personalization linkage. Other implications for practice, research, and policy are also discussed in terms of a relational-developmental perspective on personalization in high schools. Overall, this study adds to the resurgent set of research that examines students’ nonacademic skills and needs and contributes significantly to the theoretical and empirical foundations of Personalization for Academic and Social Learning (PASL). Show less

As storage device performance increases, the lifespan of an I/O request becomes throttled more-so by data path traversal than physical disk access. Even though many computer performance analysis tools exist, a surprisingly small amount of research has been published documenting bottlenecks throughout the Linux storage stack. What research has been published focuses on results found through tracing, glossing over how the traces were performed. This work details my process of developing a... Show moreAs storage device performance increases, the lifespan of an I/O request becomes throttled more-so by data path traversal than physical disk access. Even though many computer performance analysis tools exist, a surprisingly small amount of research has been published documenting bottlenecks throughout the Linux storage stack. What research has been published focuses on results found through tracing, glossing over how the traces were performed. This work details my process of developing a refined tracing method, what that method is, and how the research can be applied to measure I/O latency at any layer of the Linux storage stack. Sample results are given after examining the filesystem layer, the block layer, and the memory management system. Among these three components of the storage stack, the filesystem layer is responsible for the longest duration of an I/O request's lifespan. Show less

The following poems focus upon fundamental experiences with technologies, physical forms, obsessions, and ideas in order to reveal an inherent unity in humanity. These “artifacts” are found in ancient, but also contemporary, contexts, and are used as a foundation for building primal, empathic connections meant to override the acrimonious division of people by historical, economic forces, et al. This dissertation begins by focusing on the ancient artifacts before turning its attention to... Show moreThe following poems focus upon fundamental experiences with technologies, physical forms, obsessions, and ideas in order to reveal an inherent unity in humanity. These “artifacts” are found in ancient, but also contemporary, contexts, and are used as a foundation for building primal, empathic connections meant to override the acrimonious division of people by historical, economic forces, et al. This dissertation begins by focusing on the ancient artifacts before turning its attention to artifacts produced by contemporary ideas, practices, and technologies. This dissertation ends with a group of poems that collectively focus on the single artifact of labor, specifically, the antagonism between personal value and capitalism. Show less